Microsoft may be have rolled out a more Windows-like user interface to its dual-screen Surface Duo smartphone lineup, but the devices still ship with Google’s Android operating system. That hasn’t stopped developers like Gustave Monce from working to install actual Windows software on the phones. Up until recently, a lot of that work has focused […]
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Lilbits: Microsoft goes big on widgets for Windows 11, Zoom may launch email and calendar apps
What’s old is new again. Nearly two decades ago, Microsoft introduced support for widgets (called gadgets) that displayed snippets of information in a sidebar for Windows Vista. It became an optional feature with Windows 7, and it was discontinued by the time Windows 8 arrived. But Windows 11? It’s got widgets again, this time stuffed […]
Lilbits: Google buys Raxium, Thunderbird is going mobile, and Zoom puts time limits on free 1:1 calls
Zoom became a household name shortly after the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, as folks flocked to the easy-to-use software for hosting group video calls. The company’s freemium model doesn’t hurt: calls up to 40 minutes are free, while you have to pay for a subscription for longer group video calls. Up until this […]
Oppo introduces a retractable smartphone camera
Chinese phone maker Oppo has developed a retractable smartphone camera that allowed the company to squeeze a high-quality telephoto camera into a slim phone with only a modest camera bump when you’re not snapping photos (and a rather sizeable one when you are). Oppo says the camera provides 2X optical zoom when extended, with an […]
Lilbits: Trade-in site Gazelle is doing trade-ins again, Facebook Portal TV does Zoom, and more
Gazelle made a name for itself as a go-to site for buying and selling used smartphones and other gadgets. About two months ago the company removed the selling part. Now it’s back. Maybe ending the thing you’re best known for isn’t always the best business move? Meanwhile Lenovo’s next ThinkBook 14 is on sale… in […]
Lilbits: Amazon’s flying camera
As expected, Amazon introduced a new cheaper Fire TV Stick today, along with new Echo smart speakers, a new Echo Show 10 smart display, and a new cloud game streaming service. There’s also a new eero mesh WiFi system with support for WiFi 6 and a starting price of $129 for a single router. But […]
Zoom comes to smart displays, Google Meet to Chromecast
Zoom, the rising start in easy-to-use video conferencing/video calling has gotten a big boost from the global pandemic which has millions of people stuck at home and looking for ways to connect. Now there are a few new ways to do that — the company has announced it’s bringing Zoom to smart displays this fall, […]
Lilbits 7-02-2020: Diving into Lakefield
Intel’s new Lakefield processors represent a big step for the chip maker. Like ARM’s big.LITTLE technology, these chips combine two different types of CPU core into a single package, although Intel accomplishes this in a different way thanks to its new Foveros 3D chip stacking technology. The company has been talking about Foveros and Lakefield […]
Lilbits 6-18-2020: Maybe Chrome will be less of a memory hog
Google’s Chrome web browser is fast, versatile, and… a bit of a resource hog. But that could be about to change for Windows users. Microsoft announced that the Windows 10 May 2020 Update includes a change that could allow the Edge web browser to reduce memory consumption by as much as 27-percent. And the folks […]
Lilbits 390: A DIY ergonomic E Ink laptop made from off-the-shelf parts
There’s a fine line between genius and madness, and I’m not entirely sure which side this falls on, but web designer ArleyM recently shared details about a DIY ergonomic E Ink laptop project… and it’s kind of beautiful and horrific at the same time. Basically, the kit combines an ergonomic keyboard from Kinesis, a Kensington […]